The enigmatic teaser for ‘Close Encounters of the Third Kind’
Sony Pictures debuted a teaser video hinting at a potential re-release of Steven Spielberg’s science-fiction classic Close Encounters of the Third Kind, titled “This Means Something” a couple years back. It appeared to celebrate World UFO Day on July 2.
The teaser titled 'This Means Something' released July 2017 on World UFO Day. It led to a September 1, 2017 theatrical run of the Director’s Cut, confirming the campaign’s purpose rather than leaving the outcome in doubt. Worldwide gross stands at $306.9 million against a production budget of $19.4 million, with the 2017 re-release adding roughly $1.8 million that opening weekend.
Teaser and Re-release Context
The 2017 campaign focused on the 40th anniversary and restored the Director’s Cut for a limited theatrical window. Audiences who caught the screenings saw the same five-tone communication sequence and mothership descent that defined the original experience, now projected from a 4K master.
Box Office Performance
Original receipts topped $306.9 million worldwide. The modest 2017 bump proved the title still draws ticket buyers when presented on the big screen, especially in markets that rarely revive older 70mm titles.
Awards and Recognition
The film won Academy Awards for Best Cinematography and Special Achievement Sound Effects Editing. Nominations included Best Director and Best Original Score, underscoring how the sound design and visual effects teams elevated an already ambitious production.
Development Background
Spielberg had been sketching ideas for Close Encounters of the Third Kind even before he started shooting Jaws in 1975. Columbia Pictures green-lit the project after the shark picture’s success, giving the director the resources to realize his long-gestating vision of first contact.
Forward-Looking Speculation
The 2017 re-release happened exactly as the teaser suggested. Current interest now ties more directly to new Spielberg projects that revisit alien encounter themes rather than another anniversary push.
Recent Theatrical Screenings and Restorations
Venues such as The Loft Cinema have scheduled 70mm presentations into 2026, while Fathom Events continues to program limited runs of the restored print. These sporadic bookings keep the film in rotation for audiences who want to experience the mothership sequence at proper scale.
Spielberg’s 2026 UFO Film: Disclosure Day
Spielberg’s new project Disclosure Day arrives in theaters June 12, 2026. Trailers emphasize first-contact protocol and communication motifs, prompting immediate comparisons to Close Encounters of the Third Kind among viewers tracking the director’s recurring interest in the unknown.
Home Media and Streaming Availability
The 2017 4K UHD edition contains all three cuts—theatrical, special edition, and director’s—along with extensive supplemental features. The film also appears on the Criterion Channel and select streaming platforms, giving new viewers multiple entry points without hunting for physical media.
Legacy and Cultural Impact Updates
Close Encounters of the Third Kind entered the National Film Registry in 2007. AFI rankings continue to place it among the greatest science-fiction films and most influential American movies, a status reinforced each time a new generation discovers the five-tone motif.
Looking Ahead to the 50th Anniversary
The 50th anniversary lands in 2027. Jaws received a substantial theatrical treatment for its own 50th in 2025, setting a precedent that suggests studios may again look to Close Encounters of the Third Kind when the milestone arrives.
The story still centers on repairman Roy Neary’s obsessive drive toward Devils Tower, single mother Jillian Guiler’s search for her abducted son, and the international team decoding alien signals. Richard Dreyfuss leads, supported by François Truffaut, Melinda Dillon, Bob Balaban, and Teri Garr. The cast list remains unchanged, yet each reissue or streaming drop introduces these performances to fresh eyes. The film’s National Film Registry status ensures the original elements stay protected, while ongoing 70mm and 4K presentations prove the imagery holds up. With Disclosure Day on the horizon and the 50th anniversary approaching, Close Encounters of the Third Kind continues to function as both a preserved artifact and an active reference point in conversations about how cinema imagines first contact.
